Improvement in corn-harvesters



PATEN r n o Mes returns, orf nu B nous, u

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 60,818', dated December 4, 1866.

ATo all whom it may concern:

ABe it known that I, THOMAS YATES, of Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Harvesting and Husking Maize or Indian Corn; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan or top view of my invention; Fig. 2, an inverted plan of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in the line a: w, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a vertical section of a portion of the same, taken in the line y y, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a new and improved machine for harvesting and husking maize or Indian corn; and it consists in a cutting device, constructed,l arranged, and applied to a wagon in such a manner as to cut the ears of corn fron*i the standing stalks, and.

at the same time sever the lower ends of the husks from the butts of the ears, and strip the severed husks from the same. The invention also consists in a novel construction of the wagon for the quick turning or guiding of the same in the prosecution of its work.

A represents the body of a wagon, mounted on four wheels, both axles B B of which are attached to the body by king-bolts a a'. The front axle B is provided with what may he termed a double draftpole,7 or one coniposed of two parts, b b, connected at their front ends by an upright bow-shaped bar, c. Considerable space is allowed between the two parts b b of the draftpole,'and the horses are at the outer sides ofsaid parts, the traces of the harnesses being connected to the wagon by the usual whifflctrees d d. The front wheels of the wagon are secured to the front axle B, so that said axle will turn with the wheels, and on the center of axle B there is tted loosely a sleeve or collar, 6*, to which the king-bolt a is attached, said bolt passing through the front part of the bed of the wagon. There are also, on the axles B, two

cams, e e, one at each side of the king-bolt, y said cams being between the inner ends of the two parts b b ofthe draft-pole, through which the axle B passes loosely. At the front 4 end of the wagonlbed there are fingers f,

which are stationaryor lxed, parallel with each other, and pointed at their front ends. Directly underneath these lingers there is a cutter, C, composed of a series of `parallel knives, g, which slide underneath the lingers f, andare operated from the cams e c, pins h l1l projecting from the cutterfplate into the cams e e.

' As the machine is drawn along, the horses walk inthe spaces between the 'rows of corn,

a row being between the horses and the two parts b b of the draft-pole, the curved or bow-shaped bar c, which connects the front ends of said parts` passing over the `stalks without breaking them down. s The stalks are caught4 by the fingers f, and under the draft or forward movement of the machine are i at the ends of a bar, E, secured transy versely in the rear part of the body of the wagon, and through which bar the king-bolt a ofthe rear axle passes. Theforked bar D,

when engaged with the barE, holds the axle y B', preventing it from turning, and at any time when it is necessary to turn the wagon quickly or suddenly the forked bar D is l shoved down, and thereby disengaged from` the bar E, which allows the rear axle to turn y by the driver moving bar l) either` to the right or left, as may be required.

Having thus described my invention, y I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The xed or stationary' lingers f, at `the front part of the bed of a wagon, and having a reciprocating cutter, composed of a ses ries of knives, g, Workingl underneath it, inV

catches i on the bar E, substantially as and for theY purpose specied.

THOMAS YATES. Witnesses JOSEPH C. PAINE, JAMES LALLY. 

